Shipping container and method for transporting liquefied gases and the like

ABSTRACT

947,059. Carrying liquefied gases. W. J. GEBIEN. April 25, 1960 [April 30, 1959], No. 14432/60. Heading B7A. [Also in Division F4] A liquid methane storage receptacle 88 operating at substantially atmospheric pressure and constructed of balsa wood 92 lined with redwood 90 is buoyantly supported within a steel tank 86 charged with liquid, e.g. crankcase oil, crude petroleum, palm oil and the like from a reservoir and standpipe unit 96. The oil serves to seep into cracks developing in the receptacle walls and congeal therein, /thus forming a seal against the escape of liquefied gas. In a modification the ship&#39;s hull may serve as the oil storage tank and the gas storage receptacle 88a, Fig. 9 (not shown), may be rigidly supported by positioners 106, 108, 110 and 112.

W. J. GEBIEN Aug. 28, 1962 3,050,951 SHIPPING CONTAINER AND METHOD FORTRANSPORTING LIQUEEIED GASES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April30, 1959 A #A w W Mw DMS a m w Y @afm m a N Y s i) .X v 5) I u WwW/rw.mm\ M M /w 3,050,951 R TRANSPORTING THE LIKE Aug 28, 1952 w. J. GEBIENSHIPPING CONTAINER AND METHOD Fo LIQUEFIED GASES AND Filed April 30,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Otlice 3,050,951 PatentedAug. 28, 1962 3,05%,951 SHIPPENG CGNTAEIJER AND METHOD FOR TRANSFGRTEGUQUEFIED GASES AND THE UKE Wiiiard E. Gebien, 929 N. itlfiiwaukee,Libertyville, Ill. Filed Apr. 3i), i955, Ser. No. 809,974 1t? Claims.(Cl. 62-45) This invention relates generally to containers for coldfluids and especially to a container for transporting liquefied naturalgas at substantially atmospheric pressure.V

The considerable distances that separate sources of natural gas andconsuming markets have led to extensive waste of that material. Forexample, well over one trillion cubic feet of the natural gas from oilwell operations in Venezuela and the Middle East are presently beingflared each year, an amount approximately equal to the entire Europeanproduction for the same period,

The fact that liquefied natural gas possesses only M500 of the volumethat is displayed by the material in its customary state has spurredinterest in means for transporting natural gas as a liquid, particularlyat very low temperatures and substantially atmospheric pressure. To thisend, ocean-going vessels have been specially fitted to carry cargos ofliquefied natural gas.

The prior art schemes, however, offer a number of important drawbacks.The tanks used in the specially tted ships consist of an outer steelshell which is secured about la balsa wood insulating hner. An allweldedaluminum inner shell is then fastened inside the balsa wall insulation.These tanks are supported on foundation beams which must be carefullydesigned and properly placed in order to provide uniform support for thetanks and in order to protect the transporting vessel las well as thetanks from load concentration stresses.

An important object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide acontainer for cold uids which is buoyantly supported and which thereforeobviates excessive load concentrations in the transporting vehicle andin the container.

The inner tank employed in the prior art schemes has proved to be thefocus of a number of impor-tant problems. This inner tank must beconstructed of a material which is capable of withstanding the extremelylow temperature of the liquefied natural gas. Expensively constructedinner tanks of aluminum or nickel alloy steel have proved to be the onlysatisfactory arrangement heretofore; `and even these special inner tanksare susceptible .t failure upon the repeated thermal stressingencountered during loading and unloading of the natural gas cargo. Anydiscontinuities which might develop in the inner tank from thermalfatigue stress or from the failure of a weldment obviously can lead toloss of the cargo or the incurrence of a substantial safety hazard.

Accordingly, another important objec-t of the present invention is toprovide a container for transporting liqueiied gases which incorp-oratesself-sealing receptacle for the liquefied gas.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a container fortransporting liquefied gases which incorporates a non-metallicreceptacle which is not deleteriously atfeoted by the thermal expansionand contraction incurred in loading and unloading of the natural gascargo.

The tanks lof the prior art have also presented a substantialdisadvantage in that the tanks must necessarily be constructed in theshipyard as an integral part of the transporting vessel. Suchconstruction has proved to be expensive, ineflicient and wasteful ofvaluable shipyard space and time.

Therefore, a further object of the invention is to provide a containerfor transporting liquefied gases which is susceptible of constructionindependent from its transporting means and which is readily inserted inand removed from various transporting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container fortransporting liquefied gases which does not require construction toclose dimensional tolerances.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a novel method ofcontaining liquefied gases for transporta tion at substantiallyatmospheric pressure.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to theparticular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are`attained.

The structure in accordance with the invention includes a rigid,closured, thermally insulating receptacle buoyantly supported in amobile, sealant fluid, there being means restraining the receptacleagainst the buoyancy.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, `will bebetter understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of theinvention, showing the container being lowered into place in asupporting structure;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section showing the container of theinvention in its empty condition;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in section showing the container of theinvention iilled with liqueed gas;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View in section showing an embodiment of theinvention which incorporates cribbing;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view in section illustrating the manner in whichthe thermally insulating receptacle is automatically sealed in case adiscontinuity develops;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a cargo ship, partiallybroken away to reveal details in accordance vwith the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view through the section 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. S is a schematic side elevational view of a cargo ship, partiallybroken away to reveal details of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a View through the section 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view in partial section showingthe container of the invention embodied for transportation in a railroadcar;

FIG. 11 is a view through the section 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an end `elevational view in section showing a variation inthe means of mounting the container of the invention in a railroad car.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FiG. l, therewill be seen a supporting structure 20 which includes a number ofapertures 22. Each aperture 22 is adapted to receive a container unit 24which may be filled with some liquefied gas, such as liqueiied naturalgas. Accordingly, the liquefied gas may be transported by transportingthe structure 20.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a more detailed description of thecontainer unit 24, a generalized embodiment of the container is shown toinclude a liquidtight tank 26 which may be fabricated from steel orother suitable material and which may be comprised of a body portion 28suitably complemented by a cover portion Sti, the former having asealant lluid drain valve 32 and the latter having a closure assembly 34and a sealant fluid reservoir and standpipe unit 36. A thermallyinsulating receptacle 3S is provided within the tank 26, being spacedapart therefrom by the intervening chamber 4t) and being restrainedagainst upward movement by the cover portion 30.

Having the tank 26 and the receptacle 38 thus arranged permits theintroduction of a quantity of a sealant iiuid 42 through a lling valve44 into the reservoiJ acampar unit 36 and from thence into the chamber40. According to an important feature of the invention, this sealantfiuid buoyantly supports the receptacle 38, substantially surroundingthe receptacle 38 even to the extent of separating receptacle 38 fromthe cover portion by a thin film 46. In order to provide proper buoyantforces, fluid 42 is selected to possess a specific gravity higher thanthe specific gravity of the liquefied gas which is to be contained inthe receptacle 38. In one specific embodiment, reclaimed crankcase oilhas proved suitable for use as the sealant fluid.

Appropriately, closure assembly 34 and receptacle 38 possess a commonfilling orifice 48 through which the liquefied gas may be introducedinto the yreceptacle 38. It has proved advantageous to incorporate arelief valve unit 50, whereby vapors rising through the cold liquefiedgas may be vented to the atmosphere.

The receptacle 38 is preferably constructed of a rigid insulatingmaterial; and in one specific -embodiment it has proved advantageous toconstruct receptacle 38 from a redwood liner 52 cross-laminated to abalsa wood outer shell 54, using suitable adhesive. This constructionmakes use of a more durable interior for protecting the insulationagainst the damaging effects of the liquefied gas contents, particularlyagainst the effects of rapid gas expansion in a part of the insulationwhich is suddenly relieved of contact with the liquefied contents.

When receptacle 33 is properly supported in the tank 26 by the fluid 42,container unit 24 may be charged with its cargo. Accordingly, a quantityof liquefied gas 56 may be introduced into the receptacle 38 through thefilling orifice 48. Charging of the liquefied gas may be advantageouslyAaccompanied by `charging of the sealant fluid, the levels of the twoIbeing raised correspondingly to avoid undue stressing of thereceptacle.

Since it is intended to transport the liquefied gas 56 at substantiallyatmospheric pressure, it will be recognized that the liquefied gas 56must necessarily be introduced at extremely low temperature. Forexample, liquefied natural gas is ordinarily transported at atemperature of approximately 260 F. This extremely low temperaturecauses contraction and shrink-age of the receptacle 38 upon its beingfilled with the liquefied gas.

Under such circumstances, chamber becomes enlarged; and quantities ofthe sealant fluid 42 are withdrawn from the reservoir -unit 36accommodating this enlargement so as to eliminate voids adjacent theWalls of receptacle 38. Elimination of these voids insures` uniformsupport of and prevents stresses from building up in the receptacle 38.

Container 24 in its filled condition is illustrated in FIG. 3.

After the receptacle 38 has been properly yfilled with the liquefied gas56, a plug 58 may kbe inserted into the filling orifice 48 to engage yasealing gasket 60. Subsequently, a cap 62 may be app-lied to the closureassembly 34 ito seal the plug 58 against the gasket 60, as by drawingthe cap 62 down against cover portion 30, using a number of bolts 64.

In particularly large installations involving atank 26a of considerablesize, as is shown in FIG. 4, it has proved advantageous to providecribbing within a receptacle 38a. Thus, vertical longitudinal bracing 66and vertical lateral bracing 68 may be employed in order to support thewalls of receptacle 38a against the pressure of fiuid 42a and in orderto eliminate splash and swash within the receptacle. Bracing 66 andbracing 68 may -be fashioned from some suitable material, such ashardwood.

It is recognized that under abnormal conditions discontinuities orcracks can develop in the walls -of receptacle 38 during filling of theliquefied gas cargo, during emptying of the same, or duringtransportation. According to the present invention, such minor failuresin the walls of receptacle 38 are not permissive of leakage of theliquefied gas 56. As shown in FIG. 5, liquefied gas 56, entering afissure -or discontinuity 70 which extends through the liner 52 and theouter shell 54, encounters sealant fluid 42 before it can escape fromthe fissure 78. Appropriately, sealant fiuid 42 is maintained at apressure higher than that exhibited by the liquefied gas 56 for thispurpose, as by the employ of reservoir and standpipe unit 36, and isfurther selected to display a higher density and a higher viscosity thanthe liquefied gas.

Because of the very cold nature of the liquefied gas 56, Contact betweenthe liquefied gas 516 which is tending to escape and the sealant fiuid42 causes the latter to congeal quickly forming a solid plug in andthereby automatically closing off the fissure 70. Thus is the receptacle38 made self-sealing.

While the invention has thus far been described with a reference to ageneralized embodiment, a more thorough understanding of the inventionmay be obtained from the following descriptions given with particularreference to two embodiments of the invention particularly adapted toocean-going cargo vessels and one with reference to a railroad freightcar. Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there will be seen a cargo vesselshown generally at 88, including the vessel structure 82 and bulkheads84. The bulkheads 84 define within the structure 82 a number of chambers86 into each of which a liquefied gas receptacle 88 may be inserted. Thereceptacle 88 may be constructed from a redwood liner 96 and a balsawood outer shell 92 as previously described with reference toreceptacle. 38.

Chamber 86 is appropriately lled with a sealant iiuid 94 from areservoir and standpipe unit 96 in order to provide buoyant support forthe receptacle 88. Fluid 94 also provides viscous damping of thereceptacle 88 against the shock or twisting of the container due tomovements of the vessel 80, particularly movements associated with pitchand roll.

A number of hatches 98 are constructed from girders, or other similarelements, and are adapted to restrain the .receptacle 88 against thebuoyant support of the fiuid 94. The hatches 98 may be secured tothestructure 82 and the bulkheads 84 in any one of a number of suitablemanners.

Manifestly, quantities of liquefied gas 180 may be fiiled into thereceptacles 88 through filling valve units 102.

The cargo vessel need not necessarily be outfitted as described withreference to FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, a ship 86a may be adapted toemploy its hull 104 as the liquid-tight tank for enclosing the sealantfluid 94, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Although buoyant support of theliquefied gas receptacle is a preferred arrangement, a receptacle 88amay be rigidly supported, as by positioners 106, 108, 110, and 112. Insuch situations, it is advantageous to fabricate positioners 1i@ yand112 from some suitable, resilient material, such as neoprene rubber.Furthermore, static pressure may be maintained in the uid 94 by means ofa standpipe arrangement 96a, which is formed integrally with the hull184.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the receptacle 88a may bepositioned by means of restraining roof member 114. lt is recognized,however, that a system of cables, not shown, may be equally as wellemployed to restrain the receptacle 88a.

From the fore-going descriptions ygiven with reference to FIGS. 6-9, itwill become apparent that the receptacles 88 or the receptacles 88a maybe easily removed for inspection or replacement or for purposes ofconverting the vessel 80 or the vessel 80a from a liquefied gas tankerto an oil tanker or to a cargo ship and vice versa. Manifestly, removalor insertion of the receptacles 88 or the receptacles 88a may be easilyaccomplished upon removal of the hatches 98 or the roof member 114respectively.

It should be pointed out that provision of the sealant fluid in themanner hereinabove described permits construction of the receptacles torather liberal tolerances.' Accordingly, in the absence of the necessityof close fitting assemblies, removal or insertion of the receptacles isgreatly facilitated.

It should also be pointed out that the sealant fiuid 94 may convenientlytake the form of a compatible cargo such as crude petroleum, palm oil,coconut oil and the like.

The container of the invention may also be adapted for transport byrailroad. Accordingly, there will be seen, in FIGS. lO-l2, aliquid-tight tank 12d suitably supported on a car bed 122, truckassemblies 124 being appropriately fastened beneath the bed 122. lncompliance with the invention, a cylindrical, liquefied gas receptacle126 is provided inside the tank 120 so as to be surrounded and buoyantlysupported by sealant fluid 128. Appropriately, a sealant fluid reservoirand standpipe unit 13d communicates with the chamber 132 which isdefined between the tank 120 and the receptacle 126.

As indicated previously, the liquefied gas receptacle, receptacle 126 ofthe present embodiment, may be constructed of a redwood inner liner 134and a balsa Wood outer shell 136. For purposes of railroadtransportation, i-t has proved desirable to position the receptacle 126by means of a number of resilient supports 13d which may be ported forsnubbing action and an axial load resisting member 140. A load resistingmember 14d may advantageouslybe provided at each end of the tank 12d. Itis recognized that, under certain circumstances, the supports 138 -maybe dispensed with, allowing the receptacle 126 to be freely supported bythe fluid 128, as is shown in FIG. l2.

Manifestly, a quantity of liquefied gas 142 may be' introduced into thereceptacle 126 by some convenient means, as by filling orifice 144.Orifice 144 may be closured by means of a plug 146.

The container of the invention may additionally'be adapted for transportby trailer truck or by aircraft.

Although the foregoing descriptions have been given with particularrespect to liquefied natural gas, it should be recognized that theinvention may be used equally well with any cold fiuid or any otherliquefied gases which it is desired to transport at very lowtemperatures and under substantially atmospheric pressure.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it willbe understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limitedthereto since many modifications may be made. It is, therefore,contemplated to cover by the appended claims, any such modifications asfall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A container for ltransporting cold fluids comprising an innerreceptacle having all of its walls formed entirely of non-metallicinsulating material, an outer tank formed of impermeable,temperature-conducting material, the c0- efiicient of expansion of theinner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, ythe receptacle andthe tank being free to contract, expand and change shape -independentlyof one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer tankspacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid filling thespace between the receptacle and the tank and enveloping said receptaclein contact therewith, each wall of said receptacle being of sufficientthickness to continuously maintain the entire body of said sealant fiuidin a fluid condition when said inner receptacle contains cold fluids,and means for maintaining said sealant fluid at :a pressure higher thanthat exhibited by the cold fluids within the receptacle.

2. Means for transporting cold iiuids comprising an outer tank formed`of impermeable heat-conducting material, an inner receptacle formedsolely of insulating material, the coefficient of expansion of saidinner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, Ithe receptacle andthe tank being free to contract, expand and change shape independentlyof one another under the influence of thermochanges, said outer .tankspacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluid substantiallyfilling the space between the receptacle and the tank and envelopingsaid receptacle in contact with the insulating material of saidreceptacle, the entire inner receptacle being formed of a non-metallicmaterial of high insulating properties to preclude temperatureconduction between said inner receptacle and said sealant fluid in orderto continuously maintain the entire body of lsaid sealant fluid in afluid state when said inner receptacle contains cold fluid.

3. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising an outer tank formed ofimpermeable temperature-conducting material, an inner receptacle formedentirely of nonmetallic insulating material, the coeicient of expansion`of said inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, thereceptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand yand change shapeindependently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, saidouter tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluidsubstantially filling the space between the receptacle and the tank andenveloping said receptacle in Lcontact With the outer surface of theinsulating material of said receptacle and in contact With the innersurface of said outer tank, said insulating material being of suiicientthickness to `continuously maintain the entire body of said sealantfiuid in fluid condition' when said receptacle contains cold iiuids landmeans for maintaining said sealant fluid at a pressure higher than thatexhibited by the cold tiuids within `said receptacle.

4. A method of containing liquefied gases for transportation :atsubstantially atmospheric pressure oharacterized by the steps ofsurrounding a quantity of said liquefied gases With a receptacle formedentirely of nonnietallic insulating material, surrounding saidreceptacle with a sealant fluid, surrounding said sealant fluid With aWall formed `of impermeable, temperature-conducting material,continuously maintaining said liquefied gases in intimate con-tact withthe inner surface of said receptacle of insulating material,continuously maintaining the entire body of said sealant fluid in fluidcondition, continuously maintaining said sealant fluid in intimatecontact with the outer surface of said receptacle of insulating materialand maintaining said sealant fluid under pressure whereby said sealantfluid is caused to enter discontinuities in said receptacle to solidifytherein and to seal said receptacle against leakage.

5. A method of transporting liquefied gases at substantially atmosphericpressure characterized by the steps of surrounding a quantity of saidliquefied gases with a receptacle formed of insulating material,submerging substantially =the entirety of said receptacle in a buoyantlysupporting, mobile, sealant fluid, continuously maintaining the entirebody of said sealant fluid in uid condition, continuously maintainingsaid sealant fluid in intimate contact with the outer surface of saidinsulating material, maintaining said liquefied gas within saidreceptacle below its critical temperature, restraining said receptacleagainst the buoyant force of said sealant fluid, maintaining saidsealant fluid at a pressure higher than that exhibited by said gaswhereby said sealant tiuid is urged into discontinuities in saidinsulating material to congeal therewithin and to seal saiddiscontinuities against leakage therethrough.

6. Means for transporting cold iiuids comprising an outer tank formed ofimpermeable temperature-conducting material, an inner receptacle formedsolely of nonmetallic insulating material, the coefficient of expansionof said inner receptacle being generally uniform throughout, thereceptacle and the tank being free to contract, expand and change shapeindependently of one another under the influence of thermochanges, saidouter tank spacedly surrounding said inner receptacle, sealant fluidsubstantially filling the space between the receptacle and the tank andenveloping said receptacle in contact with the insulating material ofsaid receptacle, said insulating material being of sufficient thicknessto continuously maintain the entire body of said sealant fluid in afluid condition when said inner receptacle contains cold fiuid.

aosassi 7. The method of transporting cold fluids which comprises thesteps of vclosing a -body of cold liuid within a receptacle formedsolely of non-metallic insulating material, surroundingsaid insulatingmaterial with a body of sealant fluid, continuously maintaining saidcold iluid in continuous Contact with the inner surface of saidinsulating material, continuously maintaining said sealant liuid incontinuous Contact with the outer surface of said insulating material,surrounding said sealant fluid with temperatureconducting material,continuously maintaining the entire body of sealant iiuid in a iiuidcondition and continuously maintaining a pressure differential betweensaid sealant uid and said cold Huid whereby said sealant fluid is causedto enter discontinuities occurring in said insulating material to sealsaid discontinuities within said insulating material.

8. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising a container formed oftemperature-conducting, liquid imper' vious material, a receptacleformed entirely of non-metallic insulating material positioned withinsaid container and having its outer surface spaced at all points fromthe inner surface of said container, and a supply of sealant fluid llingthe space between said container and receptacle and in Contact with theinner surface of said container and with the outer surface of saidreceptacle, said insulating material being of suicient thickness tocontinuously maintain the entire supply of said sealant iluid in a fluidcondition when said receptacle contains cold fluids.

9. Means for transporting cold fluids comprising a container formed ofheat-conducting, liquid impervious material, a receptacle formed ofinsulating material positioned Within said container and having itsouter surface spaced at all points from the inner surface of saidcontainer, and a supply of sealant fluid filling the space between saidcontainer and receptacle and in contact with the inner surface of saidcontainer and with the outer surface of said receptacle, and means forautomatically replenishing the supply of said sealant iluid.

10. The structure of claim 8 wherein means are provided for maintainingsaid sealant fluid under pressure greater than the pressure Within saidreceptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,927,521 Lancaster Sept. 19, 1933 2,650,478 Brown Sept. 1, 19532,798,364 Morrison July 9, 1957 2,817,218 Beckwith Dec. 24, 19572,859,895 Beckwith Nov. 11, 1958 2,863,297 Johnson Dec. 9, 19582,911,125 Dosker Nov. 3, 1959 2,933,902 Howard Apr. 26, 1960 2,952,987Clauson Sept. 20, 1960 2,963,873 Stowers Dec. 13, 1960

